August 28, 2017
Anton (The Longevity Seekers), professor of English at DePaul University, analyzes the important role microbes play in this occasionally stimulating but deeply frustrating work. He makes two critical points at the outset. First, he notes that “microbes are the hidden underpinning of the global ecosystem” and that they may “offer a way out of some of the crises we have created for our world.” Second, building on this point, he argues that microbes “are now becoming allies in an all-out effort to seek better health, sustainability, and a deeper appreciation of the true diversity of life.” While Anton provides examples of how microbes are being used to improve the human condition—including by eating plastics, neutralizing nuclear waste, helping plants to boost photosynthetic output, and combating deadly MRSA infections—he does so without many specifics, leaving those interested in even rudimentary details unsatisfied. Of bigger concern, however, is the book’s lack of focus: Anton frequently and abruptly changes topics, flitting from point to point without apparent rhyme or reason. His attempts to personalize the scientists who have made crucial discoveries also fall flat because they are presented as asides rather than integral information. Despite fascinating material, this book’s presentation is bound to disappoint readers.
September 1, 2017
A survey of our emerging knowledge of microorganisms, the environments they thrive in, and their implications for human health and sustainability.How did the first life on Earth come to being? How will we solve the crisis of antibiotic resistance? How can we break down the pollution that cripples our planet? According to Anton (English/DePaul Univ.; The Longevity Seekers: Science, Business, and the Fountain of Youth, 2013, etc.), the answer is microbes. Single-celled organisms were the first living things on the planet, and, as the author details, we now know they go far beyond. Certain archaea, a bacterialike set of microorganisms with some metabolic similarities to higher animals, have been found in meteorites, comets, and at the bottom of the ocean floor. These life forms use alternative chemistries to most modern life because extreme temperatures, lack of water, and the constant bombardment of asteroids made life as we understand it impossible. Anton shines in his detailing of research that has unveiled the reach and weight of microbes and the chemistry and geology of the ancient Earth. But the organizational structure of the book is confusing. The author focuses too much on researchers, at the expense of the science, asking readers to remember far too many names instead of scientific ideas. On a single page, he moves readers from a microorganism on the surface of a comet to the human gut and then back again without clearly outlining how they are scientifically related. Anton continually hints at a comprehensive health discussion that never manifests, and the health-related claims he does make are not as well-researched as his presentation of microbial life outside of the body. A scattered presentation of the expansive topic of microbes and early life on Earth with limited discussion of how humans might effectively leverage that knowledge to solve health and environmental crises.
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Starred review from October 1, 2017
Microbes are the most successful form of life on earth. They comprise the greatest total number of organisms, are extremely diverse, and able to survive almost anywhere, from volcanic vents to Antarctica, the human body, and the stratosphere. Bacteria can be heroic, guzzling toxic waste and oil spills, or dastardly, causing disease, creating dental plaque, and producing body odor. Bacteria and yeast are vital to the production of wine, cheese, and bread. Science writer Anton cleverly choreographs coverage of the personalities of scientists, their research, and staggering findings in sync with the astounding opportunism and abilities of the microscopic life forms that fascinate them. These legions of minuscule but mighty creatures are crucial to our bodies and our planet. Origin-of-life theories and astrobiology, the influence of microbial life on the mental and physical health of humans, and the enormous effects of bacteria on our planet are all examined, and strange and amazing facts abound; for example, a gram of soil contains seven billion microbes, and the powerhouse organelles of our cells, mitochondria, possibly originated from Rickettsia bacteria that cause typhus. Anton masterfully depicts the tug-of-war between Darwinian forces (survival of the fittest) and symbiosis (biologic cooperation), the shifting border between benefit and harm, and ultimately the ubiquity of microorganisms. Mind-boggling.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)